Stop Talking -- Start Listening: Time for Silence During this Noisy Election

I got these business cards when I thought about ways to promote release of the second edition of Holy Silence. They seemed like a good, tongue-in-cheek way to to remind people of the need for sacred silence.

But, during these past few months, I've thought about them more and more in relation to this noisy, hateful election season. Politicians left and right and who knows what are pummeling us with negative ads that vilify their opponents. By the sound of the ads, every single one of these people is vile, untrustworthy, and the most despicable person who ever lived.

And their followers are not much better. Every minute my social media accounts are flooded by vitriol. Even the family wienie roast the other night had its moments of casting aspersions on candidates and those who might vote for them.

Just stop talking!

Please!

Listen for a change.  No, not to the candidates. Or their followers. Take a break from all that. No matter what your political leanings, please take some time away from the 24/7 onslaught of political pandering and rhetoric and listen to the voice that matters -- God.

Politicians claiming to be Christian are casting the first and forty-third stone at their political foes. As are their devotees. We are listening to everyone but God.

On this day before the election (like every election this one is the "most important election in our lifetime"!), take time to listen to that voice which is eternal. Listen for words of "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) Let those guide your conversations today -- political and otherwise.  Let those guide your voting tomorrow. Let those guide your life!

Be for those things.  Not against. Oscar Romero once said, "I don’t want to be an anti, against anybody. I simply want to be the builder of a great affirmation: the affirmation of God, who loves us and who wants to save us."

What kind of witnesses to the Gospel will we be during these next two days?

May we our mouths be free from any unkind words. May we speak affirmation for the God who loves all humankind. May we, most of all, listen to the voice of that which calls us to love one another -- even our enemies -- political and otherwise.